Cousin Sisters

A white clad person walked down the streets of Maharan, the capital city of Shrughna, face covered with a piece of cloth. The person had a bag hanging on the right shoulder. The white clothes were like a cloak covering the body and thus the patta sword and a pair of blade disks called chakram were well hidden within them. The person walked very fast; the pace increasing with each step. Suddenly the person was stopped and pulled into a dark alley by another who in a very deep voice asked,

"Are you sneaking out again Joshika?"

The white-clad person removed her veil and frowned with a deep sigh. She spoke,

"Looks like you won't stop stalking me until I slice off your legs, Varun."

Joshika, is a pretty girl, with extremely thick long hair, round eyes, a fair complexion, and short height. Varun is her best friend who is quite taller than her, with curly hair, well-built, medium dark complexion; he wields a sword and a small dagger.

Varun rolled his eyes at Joshika's threat and spoke, "Listen, idiot, your father sent spies all over Maharan to stalk you, one of them I just incapacitated to stop following you."

Joshika, looking straight without any reaction, "I don't trust you. All my life you dear bestie have sold me out when things went wrong. And now you say that you are on my side? Please spare me the talk."

Varun, "Ohhh my! Is that so? Then pray tell who was the one who helped you to sneak into the royal bureau of information using his mind spell? And then who saved you from your father's beatings when he almost discovered your chakram practicing?"

Joshika let a faint smile on her face and spoke, "Alright alright, stop sulking and tell me what are you doing following me like a lost dog?"

Varun, " We need to talk. I have got some important information. God, help me this almost blew my cover. You might get me killed someday."

Joshika, rolling her eyes in frustration, "If you want to gloat then be my guest. I am leaving."

Varun, "Fine I'll tell you. But not here. Let's go to the temple."

With that, both of them left running. Joshika and Varun are childhood best friends, but he later developed a serious crush on her friend which he strictly kept to himself. Joshika is the second child of Mantri Rudra Shri. Her mother Uma Devi is the elder sister of the slain previous queen of Shrughna, Ujali Devi, making her the first cousin of the lost princesses Adara and Aditi. Joshika was particularly close to Adara being only a couple of years younger than her. Her father Rudra Shri was the chief treasurer of king Vikram Vedi. As brothers-in-law, they were also each other's close confidantes. Suddenly one day, just three days before the fated attack on the royal family, Raja Vedi had ordered Mantri Shri to escort a strange box to their hometown which was a rough five days journey from the capital and peaceful place named, Rajkhali near the southeastern border of Shrugna. At first, Mantri Shri was quite baffled to receive such an order because he was the chief treasurer and it was not his job. Moreover, he ordered that Rudra Shri takes his family as well. But the Raja then personally went and requested him to do the favor. He particularly pleaded, citing that the future of the world depends on it. Mantri Shri obeyed his order and left with his family who was happy to spend some time in their ancestral mansion at Rajkhali.

Three days later news arrived of the attack on the royal family with the king and queen getting assassinated and the two princesses missing. The Shri family rushed back to Maharan and immediately they were brought into questioning. To his shock, Mantri Shri saw that the one who betrayed their king was prime minister Ratan Raj, whose elder son was betrothed to his elder daughter, Davinya. Ratan Raj knew he holds the ultimate leverage against Rudra Shri so he didn't waste any time threatening him to hurt his daughter if he wouldn't comply. With such a threat Rudra Shri wouldn't even dare, so he complied with every order of Ratan Raj.

Joshika was a seven years old kid yet she understood the situation quite well. After a few years her elder sister, Davinya was married off to Vashistha Raj, who was now the crown prince of Shrughna making her the crown princess. The family's status has been elevated as they were the in-laws of the new royal family. So for the sake of their daughter's welfare, they accepted to be under Ratan Raj and stay within the Sunehri Mahal under his watchful eyes. But this was somehow not accepted by Joshika who was a rebel at heart. Her talking is elegant with very proper speech except at times when she is frustrated or angry; her demeanor is sophisticated yet inside she is a headstrong woman. She remembered the memories spent with her cousins in the royal garden where they played hide and seek with toy weapons. She was mostly close to the elder princess Adara because Aditi, the younger one was reserved and was very young too. The only person she opened up to and played was Adara. But now that things are so different and seeing her family doing nothing to find out what went wrong made her even more desperate. Joshika is infamous for her stubbornness and perfectionist. She was determined from that very ill-fated day that she will find her cousins no matter what.

Luckily she found another companion in the younger prince of Shrughna, in her quest to find the lost princesses and stop the anarchic rule of the present king. Varun might be a prince but he is a righteous one at heart just like his mother, the queen. She never supported her husband's betrayal of the previous king and it has strained her relationship with him. The only reason she accepted her role as the queen was for the sake of her sons, especially Varun. His elder brother Vashisht did what his father ordered him to do. He had no voice of his own. He was rather soft and indifferent toward the seriousness of his father's crimes. This is the reason he is secretly despised by Varun who was not only against his father's actions but was vocal about it. Ratan Raj as such was always hard on his younger son and never lets go of any opportunity to insult and throw harsh words at him. For the same reason as his mother, Varun is rendered powerless. But with Joshika he found a new zeal to do what his conscience always told him was just. Being children of the king and the minister their actions and movements were strictly observed. Both of them got enrolled in the Adhayanalay (Consortium for auras in Shrughna). Joshika's power element is the mind and Varun's is water. However, under the orders of the king for some reason, they were specially barred to learn any weapons or fighting techniques. They were allowed to learn their respective power elements and other subjects which were strictly restricted to scripture learning. Ratan Raj probably felt that these two might rebel if unbridled and Minster Shri was scared that his daughter might face dangers or her actions might put their family in danger, so they agreed that it was for the best that education was restricted.

Joshika and Varun however secretly learned weapon fighting techniques along with their power elements. They became best friends when Joshika moved into the palace. And after the high-profile visit from Tianxia General Xi and Yeoson's Sangcheon Dewang, they both realized the seriousness of the situation and intensively started planning. Varun being a prince and compassionate person had his ways to coerce servants to act as spies. Varun used this as a way for them to spy on that meeting as well. Since it was risky for only one person to attend the kings for far too long he arranged for several servants and eunuchs to attend them on different excuses for entertainment. But he did it quite cleverly without the servants knowing that there were other servants to whom the prince has asked for 'the favor'. The information provided by each one of them made Varun extremely distressed and worried. He soon went and met Joshika and found her disguise lurking in the city and they left for their hideout temple to talk freely.

Joshika then spoke, "Ok tell me now what is it? Given by your looks it doesn't seem to be a good one I guess."

Varun, "No, it isn't, rather it's disturbing. My father and the General and the Yeosonian king are up to something big."

Joshika, "What big? Stop talking in riddles and speak properly of what you know."

Varun said, "My father and the other two kings are in search of some 'prophesized chosen ones'. And also I heard something about some Shadow which is somewhere in the Yeosonian sea."

Joshika, looking worried, "Chosen ones? Does it have to do anything with the Coup 15 years ago?"

Varun was startled, "You are right. I heard your cousins were targeted. Especially the younger ones. What was her name?"

Joshika, immersed deep into her thoughts, spoke out almost whispering, "Aditi. Her name is Aditi."

Varun, "And her elder sister, wait her name was... am mmmm…yes yes princess Adara. I heard the King separated them just before they got attacked."

Joshika, looking at Varun with concern and uneasiness, "Yaaa Varun, I think something terrible is going to happen. It is impossible for me to just sit and watch. My father's hands are tied because of my elder sister. But I can't be a mute spectator because this is not right at all."

Varun, " The feeling is mutual Josh. I know my father is wrong. He betrayed the King for his own gains and I cannot just sit back and watch either. We really need to do something. But I don't know what to do or even where to start."

Suddenly Joshika sprang up and said, "Look, I have a plan. But I don't know if you will agree to this or not."

Varun, "What are you talking about? Of course, I am in. Say it."

Joshika, "My mother perhaps knows something. You see I remember when my uncle sent us away to our ancestral place he handed over a crest asking a favor from Baba. It was top secret. I think the King knew a lot about what your father is planning with that General and Yeosonian king. And I think it has something to do with the chosen ones. I mean Aditi."

Varun, spoke confused and excited all at once, "Aditi? The younger one? She was an aura? But how can one know; she was very young I guess."

Joshika, "I am not sure but I think she is the chosen one. That's why this General attacked and captured her. But one thing I cannot figure out. Why did uncle send Adara Di away like that?'

Varun, "Is it to distract the attention? But no, everyone knew the elder princess it wouldn't work."

Joshika, "I have to find a way to ask my mother. She knows something. Even if I have to use magic on her I will. But I have to know."

Varun, "I have to sneak into my father's information bureau and find out more."

Joshika, "Listen, you be careful ok. If anyone finds out what we are up to we are grounded forever."

They both left for the palace. Upon returning, Joshika went into her room and pulled out her diary. She noted down every detail of what she and Varun found out and deduced for all these years till now. After that, for the next few days, she spent devising a way to ask her mother Uma Devi about the incident 15 years ago.